A/N: You guys are the best!
Someone asked for their ages, Santana is 17 and Brittany is 23.
Chapter nine
The New Directions burst through the doors of their McKinley High, Choir Room. They all wore huge grins as they proudly watched Mr Schue place their winning Sectionals trophy in the display cupboard.
"Excellent job you guys," Mr Schue said turning around to face the club. "You should all be proud."
The group cheered and slowly started to morph into their own conversations.
"Don't forget this week's assignment is songs involving colors. Have them ready by Friday." Mr Schue yelled as some of the club began to leave.
Everyone seemed happy and excited. It was like all the tension earlier had subsided. Santana walked over to the choir room chair where she had thrown her bag down after they had returned from competition. She quickly picked it up, hoping to catch Brittany before she left.
"Well done, you were amazing out there." Finn said opening his arms for a congratulatory hug.
"Thanks, so were you." She smiled surprised and confused that he had seemed to have at least calmed down from earlier. She stepped into his familiar arms. "I'm sorry about the whole Puck thing." She whispered.
They pulled apart from their embrace. "It hurts that you did that Santana but you were right, I really like Rachel and I can't change the past but I can move on." He smiled. "We're a team and we stick together, we forgive."
"You're a good guy Finn and hope it works out with the Hobbit." She smiled pulling him back into a hug. She knew she didn't deserve his forgiveness but she was glad she had it.
"Yeah umm… we should probably stop hugging though, because she's totally glaring at us right now."" He whispered awkwardly causing Santana to scoff.
"I see you haven't changed then, still whipped." They pulled apart again and Finn awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck as he wandered back over to a jealous looking Rachel.
"You've change." Quinn stated appearing next to Santana and making her jump.
"I know." Santana mumbled ready for another one of Quinn's lectures.
"…I think I have too, we all have." She smiled. "We're growing up and we're becoming better people together." She let out a breathy laugh. "I can't believe I'm saying this but I think I'm actually going to miss all of these people when we graduate."
Santana looked at Quinn and smirked. "Jeez, we're not leaving yet, Q."
Quinn rolled her eyes at Santana ruining their moment. She playful nudged her shoulder against Santana's, (It seemed to be how they showed affection to one another.) Santana watched as Quinn met up with Sam who was waiting for her at the door, which reminded her she wanted to talk to Brittany.
Santana made her way to the parking lot. Brittany was unlocking her car as the Latina approached.
"Britt."
Brittany tuned around and smiled at the beautiful girl running toward her. She was reminded of how earlier that day Santana shone so brightly under the stage lights. How she looked so confident when she sang her verse of ABC by the Jackson 5. How she belonged on the stage just as much as any of the talented kids that performed, if not more.
"What a day huh?" Santana laughed as she stopped in front of the older woman.
Brittany nodded.
"I uh," Santana pause gathering her courage. "I wondered if maybe you'd like to go on a date with me?" She felt her cheeks redden as the words slipped from her lips.
The choreographer's sympathetic smile gave Santana her answer.
"Santana I-"
"I know." Santana said, she didn't want to hear Brittany's rejection. It would hurt her heart as much as her pride.
"It's just I need some time to sort out my life you know?" Brittany said. "I need time to get over Hannah, to decide whether I'm going to stay at my apartment, to focus on my upcoming audition."
Santana nodded.
"I think you need some time too." Brittany continued.
Santana nodded again. Brittany was right. She did need time to become comfortable with herself, accept herself and maybe eventually let others know the real her. "We can just be friends for now?"
"Can we though?" Brittany said doubtfully.
"Well, yeah." Santana said not really sure what Brittany meant by that.
"Santana," Brittany sighed like she shouldn't have to explain what she meant. "All I've wanted to do today was touch you or kiss you. It's too hard to be around you and not want more."
Santana struggled to catch her breath, she stared at the blonde for a moment. She couldn't believe Brittany seemed to feel the same way that she did about the choreographer. It was so unfair that there seemed to be so many obstacles in their way. She was slightly torn between being glad she had that effect on the blonde and not liking where this conversation was leading.
"I just need some time to myself, to concentrate on myself. We will see each other again but for now I just need-"
"Time," Santana finished. "I get it." She said bitterly.
Brittany broke their eye contact to open her car door and place her camera bag on the passenger seat.
"Hey," Santana said shakily, her voice sounded sad and vulnerable even though she tried her best to hide it.
Brittany looked to the Latina and waited for her to continue.
"Promise you'll let me know how your audition goes?" She asked.
"You'll be one of the first to know San." She smiled before getting in her car, waving and closing the door.
A month and a half! One whole month and then some more days was how long it had been since they had won sectionals, which meant it had been one and half months since she had seen or heard from Brittany.
Santana had tried not to think about it, but if she was honest Brittany had clouded her every thought since she had met her.
Glee club seemed to be missing something since the choreographer had left, it wasn't as exciting, as fun or as happy…. Well for Santana at least. Rachel and Finn were now 'officially' dating and Sam and Quinn were too. Santana pretended like she was fine, she made bitchy comments when convenient and actually did have fun singing and dancing but it was hard to do when all she wanted, was to hear from the blonde choreographer that had changed her life. She had however, become more accepting of herself although she still hadn't told anyone. It was a process and she was improving. Her relationship with Quinn had changed somewhat, they were closer and their rivalry with one another had simmered down a lot to what it had been.
Santana didn't know if she was more sad or angry that Brittany hadn't let her know how her Ke$ha audition had gone like she promised. She thought about texting her and asking but she decided the ball was in Brittany's court. Brittany was the one who asked for time, so she could also be the one who reached out first. Santana had panicked that the blonde may have forgotten about her, she even considered moving on and meeting other girls but for some reason she never did. She was waiting for Brittany and Brittany only.
It was the holiday season, in fact it was Christmas. Santana's family had gathered at her parents' house for their annual Christmas Lunch. Santana was seated at the dining room table, that was actually now two tables pushed together to fit everyone in. she was surrounded by her parents, cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents.
"Santana," her Abuela started. "Hija mayor, where is your Novio? He joined us last year no?"
"Si, but we broke up Abuela."
"Such a shame, he was so tall and handsome."
Santana rolled her eyes, last year her Abuela criticised her for bringing Finn and this year she was going to pretend she liked him? If only she knew who her granddaughter had feelings for now.
"Sanny?" her adorable little cousin Johnny said from beside her as he finished his meal.
"Yeah little man?" Santana said as she smiled at his gorgeous big brown eyes.
"When can you babysit me again?" He asked hopefully. "Well I'm not a baby anymore so it would be more like boysitting.
"Whenever you want." Santana giggled.
"So is there another boyfriend?" her uncle asked from across the table.
What is this? Quiz Santana day? "No, no one at the moment." She shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
"Too much of a bitch I reckon." Her cousin Marko said earning a slap behind the ear from her Abuelo.
The doorbell rang and Santana shot out of her seat to get the door so she could escape the horrible family interrogation about her love life. She was definitely saved by the bell.
She got to the front door and opened it. She looked around at the snow covered street but no one was there. She was about to close the door when she noticed a thin present on the door step. It was wrapped in red and green Christmas paper and had a label on the front. She picked it up and read it. "Dear Santana, Merry Christmas xox"
She quietly closed the door hoping her family had forgotten about her and rushed upstairs to her room carrying the present.
She stared at the package in confusion before curiosity got the better of her. She sat down on her bed and gently unwrapped the paper until she could see what it was. She smiled.
In her hands she held a wooden frame with a photo of the New Directions in it. It was blown up to A3 size and it was definitely taken during their performance at sectionals. It must have been in Santana's solo because she was standing in front of the rest of the choir. She only remembered one person she knew with a camera that day. Brittany.
She noticed a card had fallen to the floor when she had unwrapped the frame. She picked it up and took it out of the envelope. Her cheeks ached from smiling so hard but it only widened when she noticed the writing was in Christmas colors. Every second letter was red and the rest were green.
Dear Santana 'best dance student ever' Lopez,
MERRY CHRISTMAS
I hope you'll come and watch me dance.
Your Britt xox
Attached to the card were two tickets to Ke$ha. Santana let out a breathy laugh and shook her head. Brittany may actually be perfect. Brittany hadn't forgotten her, she had waited for a perfect moment and the perfect way to make contact again. Santana felt stupid waiting for a text or phone call from Brittany telling her that her audition went well or that she was going to go on tour with Ke$ha, this was Brittany she was dealing with… adorably, quirky, sweet Brittany. She was different, good different.
Santana re-read the card a few more times, her heart fluttered every time she read 'your Britt.' Was that Brittany telling her she was ready to explore what they had? She wasn't sure but there was only one way to find out. Santana took her phone out of her bedside table drawer where her mother had made her leave it while the family was having lunch.
To Britt : I hear a congratulations is in order! I will definitely come and watch you dance. P.S thank you for the photo. Merry Christmas x
Santana waited anxiously for a reply but her nervous hand wringing was interrupted by a knock at her bedroom door.
"Santana sweetheart?" her mother's voiced sounded from behind the door "Who was at the front door? Are you ok?"
"Umm… Yeah, it was just carolers, I sent them away." She replied putting her phone back in the drawer. "I'll be down in a sec'." She closed the drawer and went down stair back to the family chaos.
Brittany entered her apartment, she had just gone out to lunch with her parents and Sister, Julia.
"Tubbs?" She called as she headed into the kitchen to fill up her cat's food dish. That had been a good thing to come from Hannah moving out, she could finally ask Lord Tubbbington to move in. He was hesitant at first but after she told him about the comfy bed she bought him, he was all for it.
She was finally getting her life on track. She had a job on tour with Ke$ha, which meant she'd be moving to LA for a while to prepare and then she'd be travelling around the world. She had her cat back. Getting over Hannah had been hard and took some getting used to but she felt it was right that it had ended and she knew there were better things to come.
Brittany had left her phone at home when she went out for lunch, she put Lord Tubbington's food dish down and sat at the breakfast bar where she had left it. She smiled when she realised she had a message from a familiar name.
To Santana 'best dance student ever' Lopez: Yay thank you. How have you been? Xox
Brittany moved from the stool at the breakfast bar to the couch and laid down.
She must have fallen asleep because her phone buzzing startled her. She checked the time. An hour had passed.
From Santana 'best dance student ever' Lopez: Hey sorry, the family has just left it was crazy here. I've been ok… I've been missing you… x
Brittany blushed and was glad that no one was around to see her do so.
To Santana 'best dance student ever' Lopez: I'm having a New Year's Eve/Leaving for tour Party (on NYE) will you come?
To Santana 'best dance student ever' Lopez: P.S I miss you too
Brittany let out an excited squeak at the reply.
From Santana 'best dance student ever' Lopez: I'll be there x
